[Federal Register: March 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 46)]
[Notices]
[Page 11012-11013]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09mr04-71]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-OW-7633-4]
Notice of Availability of Draft Aquatic Life Criteria Document
for Copper and Request for Scientific Views; Reopening the Period To
Submit Scientific Views
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for scientific views;
reopening the period to submit scientific views.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Due to requests from the public, EPA is reopening the period
for submitting scientific views on the draft document containing
updated aquatic life criteria for copper. EPA announced the
availability of the draft criteria on December 31, 2003 (68 FR 75552).
The period for submission of scientific views ended on March 1, 2004.
Today, the Agency is reopening the period to submit scientific views
for an additional 30 days.
DATES: EPA will accept scientific views on the 2003 Draft Updated of
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Copper document on or before April
8, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Scientific views may be submitted electronically, by mail or
through hand-delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as
provided in Section I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
the December 31, 2003, Federal Register. Electronic files may be e-
mailed to: OW-Docket@epa.gov. Scientific views may be mailed to the
Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 4101T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No.
OW-2003-0079. Instructions for couriers and other hand delivery are
provided in section I.C.3 of the December 31, 2003, Federal Register.
The Agency will not accept facsimiles (faxes).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Roberts, Health and Ecological
Criteria Division (4304T), U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20460; (202) 566-1124;
roberts.cindy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Are Water Quality Criteria?
Water quality criteria are scientifically-derived concentrations of
a pollutant that protect aquatic life or human health from the harmful
effects of pollutants in ambient water. Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean
Water Act requires EPA to develop and publish and, from time to time,
revise criteria for water quality to accurately reflect the latest
scientific knowledge. Water quality criteria developed under section
304(a) are based solely on data and scientific judgments on the
relationship between pollutant concentrations and environmental and
human health effects. Section 304(a) criteria do not consider economic
impacts or the technological feasibility of meeting the chemical
concentrations in ambient water. Section 304(a) criteria help States
and authorized Tribes adopt water quality standards that ultimately
provide a basis for controlling discharges or releases of pollutants.
The criteria also help EPA promulgate federal regulations under section
303(c) when such action is necessary.
Once established, an EPA water quality criterion does not
substitute for the CWA or EPA regulations; nor is it a regulation. It
cannot impose legally binding requirements on the EPA, States,
authorized Tribes or the regulated community. State and Tribal
decision-makers have the discretion to adopt approaches that differ
from EPA's guidance on a case-by-case basis.
[[Page 11013]]
II. Why Is EPA Reopening the Period for Request of Scientific Views?
On December 31, 2003, EPA published a Federal Register notice (68
FR 75552) announcing the availability and requesting scientific views
on the updated criteria in the 2003 Draft Update of Ambient Water
Quality for Copper document and on the application of the biotic ligand
model (BLM) used to derived the fresh water criteria. EPA received
requests to extend the period for submission of scientific views on
these documents. In order to give the public enough time to review, EPA
is reopening the period to submit scientific views.
To submit your scientific views, or access the official docket,
please follow the detailed instructions as provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the December 31, 2003 Federal
Register (68 FR 75552). If you have any questions, consult the person
listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Dated: March 4, 2004.
Benjamin H. Grumbles,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 04-5288 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P